Have you ever wondered what those little black discs are made of that zip around the ice during a hockey game?

They're called pucks, and they're made of vulcanized rubber. 

That's right, the same kind of rubber in your car tires. Most pucks are even made from recycled tire rubber.

However, the first hockey pucks were made of wood. You can imagine how difficult it was to stick handle with one of those! 

Wood pucks were replaced by ones made of cork, which was lighter and easier to control, but the cork pucks had a tendency to absorb water and swell, making them unpredictable on the ice.

In the 1880s, the Victoria Hockey Club of Montreal is said to have invented and used the first round pucks made of vulcanized rubber. This was a significant improvement over the cork pucks, as they were more durable, didn't absorb water and could be made to bounce more predictably.

Origin Of The Hockey Puck's Name

The word "puck" is derived from a character in Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Puck is a mischievous elf in the play, who often causes havoc and stirs trouble. 

This name was chosen for the hockey puck because it, too, can be very flighty and unpredictable, sliding quickly and smoothly across the ice in all directions. 

Whether you are a casual fan or a die-hard supporter, there is no doubt that hockey is an enjoyable and thrilling sport to watch.

However, some historical accounts claim that the name "puck" came from the Scottish Gaelic word "puc," or the Irish word "poc," which both mean "to strike." 

These words likely were used to describe the act of hitting a small, round object with a stick. It also is possible that the name was derived from an Old French word "pok," which meant "bagatelle" or "a small, insignificant thing"

How Hockey Pucks Are Made

Nowadays, vulcanized rubber is the standard material used to make hockey pucks.

The manufacturing process begins with rubber cut into small pieces and placed into a heated mold. The mold put under extreme pressure to compress and shape the rubber into a disk.

Once the puck has cooled and set in the mold, it is removed and sent for quality control. Here, it will be checked for any imperfections or defects.

If the puck passes inspection, it will be packaged and shipped off to hockey arenas worldwide!

One of the most well-known brands of hockey pucks is CCM. 

This company has been manufacturing hockey equipment since 1899 and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. CCM pucks are used by many professional hockey teams, including the NHL.

Conclusion

The history and origins of the hockey puck are just as fascinating as the object itself. What began as a wooden disk has evolved into the vulcanized rubber puck used in games today. 

The material for pucks has changed over time, but the purpose remains the same: to score goals and entertain fans. Whether watching from the stands or playing on the ice, there's nothing quite like a game of hockey!